NOTRE-DAME 57, SOUTH FLORIDA 53 (OT)
Notre Dame is set to get its first big East Championship and South Florida is looking into a couple of days after the teams played anxious their quarters Thursday night at the pace of a traffic jam before the fighting Irish prevailed, 57-53 in overtime.
No. 23-ranked and third-seeded Notre Dame (22-10) got a dagger 3-pointer from Eric Atkins extend overtime lead to four points with 29.2 seconds left and the Bulls (20-13) closed within 54-53, they could not take the Irish.
PHOTOS: 2012 the BIG EAST TOURNAMENT at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Notre Dame will meet Louisville in the semi-final later on Friday, the same combination in the same round as last season, when he won the Cardinals. Notre Dame-Louisville was a very competitive rivalry, with seven of the last 11 games of the teams, going at least one overtime. The cards won the semifinal of last year's 83-77 in OT.
"This group of all my teams, is better equipped to achieve on Saturday night," Irish coach Mike Brey said.
The Bulls blew a chance to win in regulation – a victory that would have surely sealed their place in the NCAA tournament-when a layup Jawanza Poland lost with 33 seconds left in regulation that would have put three.
Seven seconds after the miss, Poland lost one front-end and one fouled Pat Connaughton, who made one of two free throws to tie it 45-45 and force OT.
"Poland should finish the layup," said Bulls coach Stan Heath. "Is point blank. He is all alone. He makes (and) the game is over. "
South Florida was one of the great stories of the big East this season, finishing in a tie for fourth place after being captured 14 of 16 teams in the poll of coaches pre-season Conference. Unique style Bulls, a combination of intense defense and an offense that makes the game flow as cold molasses, makes them an intriguing candidate for the NCAA selection Committee. However, they have no better WINS their curriculum than those over Louisville and Cincinnati.
"We hope that we have erased any doubt about what kind of team we have and which belong to us," said Heath. "Team as we not only get into the tournament, who win".
USF had a shot blocked on 3-point possession after Atkins three-ball, but stole a pass in the backcourt and understood at a three Toarlyn Fitzpatrick cut the margin to 54-53, with 2.5 seconds remaining.
It got the ball back with one second left and the score 55-53, but has never had the ball at halfcourt and once again had to foul the Irish.
Jerian Grant Connaughton and each scored 12 for Notre Dame. Victor Rudd had 16 points and Anthony Collins 13 for USF.
Notre Dame led 28-26 at halftime after 20 minutes of wild swings. Open to USF cable 20-8. The fighting Irish then held the Bulls without a point for eight minutes as she reeled off 18 unanswered. Grant had seven points and left Scott Martin five, including a jumper that put ND on 26-20 with 3:54.
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